This collaboration with Google Cloud is part of an integrated, organization-wide strategy that provides cloud solution requirements developed in concert with the Internet2 member community.

The NET+ Google Cloud Platform (GCP) offering includes a pre-negotiated, custom contract designed to ease deployment, accelerate adoption, and increase security and data protection for the academic enterprise. Internet2 higher education members benefit from key enhancements to standard GCP education terms, while leveraging the capacity of the Internet2 Network connection for enhanced performance and delivery.

In addition to the NET+ GCP offering, Internet2 leverages regional and national trusted research infrastructure to provide private peering services, as well as direct access to Google Cloud Platform Dedicated Interconnect through the Internet2 Cloud Connect service. Regional and state networks and subscribers to NET+ GCP gain access to over 300 gigabit per second of private peering capabilities with Google Cloud through the Internet2 Network, in addition to resilient national interconnects for private GCP Dedicated Interconnect. Together, these advanced, resilient, secure, community-enabled services make it easier for researchers to access and use cloud resources.

The teams from Indiana University, Michigan State University, University of Washington, and Washington University in St Louis have worked with the Google team to develop a differentiated NET+ Google Cloud Platform (GCP) program.

Cloud Connect

Using your regional's infrastructure in conjunction with the Internet2 Network, you can reach cloud resources, including Google Cloud Platform Dedicated Interconnect. The robust regional and national networks allow access to these cloud providers available in the locations on the map (please see below). Depending on your preference, you can implement either a Layer 2 or Layer 3 solution. Additionally, you will need to subscribe to the cloud provider's service. For Microsoft, please contact your representative directly.

Layer 2 Google Cloud Platform Dedicated Interconnect Connection

Layer 3 Google Cloud Platform Dedicated Interconnect Connection

With the layer 3 option, Internet2 creates an L3VPN unique for each campus. The L3VPN BGP peers with Google and the campus, in turn, BGP peers with the L3VPN. The regional network, if any, passes the VLANs through between the campus and Internet2. One advantage of this option will be discussed further below.

Additional Layer 3 Connectivity

Another advantage of the Layer 3 option is the possibility of connecting to other Google regions and other cloud service providers. In this case, the Internet2 L3VPN peers with the additional sites/providers and the campus simply continues to peer with the L3VPN over the existing VLANs. Doing this with Layer 2 would require possibly many additional VLANs connecting the campus to provider routers.

Find out how the community is using the NET+ GCP offering by visiting the Cloud Wiki!

Description:

Google created Google Cloud Platform to offer businesses and universities the same powerful infrastructure, data analytics, and machine learning that Google uses to drive innovation and performance. Google Cloud Platform frees organizations from the overhead of managing infrastructure, provisioning servers and configuring networks. It lets innovators innovate, researchers research, and coders code. The Google Cloud Platform suite of tools can power university infrastructure, research and teaching. Google Cloud Platform now serves over one billion end-users through its customers’ products and services.